New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-25
EASTERN And WESTERN IDEAS
WHY THE WEST FAVORED rae INTERSTATE COM
MERGE LAW.

MERGE LAW.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune
SIRE II is fact. to extent that people IN the
East think differently differ little in their ideas
from those OF the West think from what know
myself OF the feeling in Kansas that the difference is
caused by something not known or felt here We do
have few iree-tradeIs here in tho East; they are
however. confined to university professors and some
of their pupils. The place where free trade Is the
popular idea certainly is ia the West and South and
by means in the East Our ideas on the money
question very far apart from those oil Kansas
people. The idea hardly be sustained that we are
opposed TO legitimate improvement of western water
ways there nave been too many millions spent Tor
that purpose already 20 make that point sound. we
do object TO wildcat schcmes, but not whit more
than the people OF Kansas do
Senator Plumb's remarks on the Interstate Com
merce bill show what its strongest opponents have
coutended, that il Is really a ement III favor OF
the Mississippi and Missouri tho South and West
THAT part of the Mississippi against the railroads.
OF the North and East But this, ii carried out
would still leave the farmers OF halsss aud Nebraska
in bad shape they are now in, so tar az cheap
freights are concerned. No was finding any fault
ont there with long hauls For example. IA friend oil
mine had piano shipped from Albany. n. L., TO
Sterling, Kan, point sbodt 2G5 miles west OF
Kansas City. The freight from Albany to Kansas
City was S25-1 800 miles; from Kansas City to
Sterling S5)-265 miles. the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fc Railroad. Another friend OF NINE at
Parsons Kan, shipped twelve carloads OF corn from
Parsons TO ST. LOUIS, add the freight amounted to one
dollar a more than he got for his corn.
Some time about five years ago land l have no
reason to doubt the conditions still the same
newspapers in Kansas started crusade against local
coal merchants on the ground OF exOrbitant prices
happened into the Office of OF the coal merchants
just the railroad companys agent brought IN his
freight bills for two carloads of coal shipped from
Trinidad, New-Mexico, TO Nickerson Kan. The cars
billed at eighteen tons &c the car. The coal as
loaded tie al the mines tor - per ton, and
the Atchisoa, Topeka and Santa re Railroad runs
through both towns, O distance OF some 300 miles
The freight was 81 per ton. The coal had shrunk
from eighteen tons (the amount charged Tor by the
miners and the amount Tor which the railroad COM
pany collected freight to isen tons, and the dealer
was obliged to sell AZ ~ 90 per ton delivered. ne
TACT that he was also lumber merchant VIII explain
how ne maintained himselt. His coal trade was All
absolute loss. THIS was the rule all along the road
At time hapI ened 10 have some business trans
act III with tho freight agent OF the Atchson, Topeka
and Santa Fe at st. Louis. While was in his Office
merchant called ard inquired at what he would bull
several cars ten believe OF lime to Denver, Col.
The reply $50 per car. Competition ala TINS )
the same material delivered at Sterling Kan, on the
same road. not halt the distance. would have cost
over 500 per car To this same road was gwen
every alternate section OF land tor twenty miles each
side OF its roads for about 300 miles III Kansas, ana
this land has been made very valuable by the people
who hoInestcaded the Government land IL IS hardly
be wondered at that perhaps they may have fayored
this Interstate bill under the blind mpres sion that
would IN some mysterious way benefit them HOW ~
is TO he done Is Tar beyond my comprehenlon' VIII
freely acknowledge. mention this road because mere
is where lived There l. no reason 20 suppose tha.
other roads were any reasonable. merchant
doing business must first add II pei cert to the cost
OF his goods as freight add to this the fact that
wholesale prices tor goods groceries and drygoods
are about the in Chicago St. Louis, Kansas CITY
and ST. Joseph a, the retail rice here aud you can
soc why it costs much TO live. What Is needed Is
relief from local e1oron by the railroads OF kansas
and not the raising OF the freight rates on through
competing lines. They will take care OF themselves
through competition. And II ia my Impression that II
these facts known any difference OF opinion ana
tee npb bet La
appear. ~ J' l.
Neu- York, June 81 1857.